Struggling to cope with Puppy's whining :(

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shadowboy

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Hi all,
I'm wondering if you guys could help with some much needed advice- my malamute puppy just wont stop whining and whinging despite the fact that we have had him nearly 4 weeks. If I tell you the routine you may be able to pick up on the reasons why?
6.15am - Wake up- straight outside for a poo and wee
6.20-7am play time
7am I take older dog out for her morning walk/Pup is fed his breakfast -OH leaves for work.
7.30am I return from walk- pup out for wee
7.30-8.30- I have breakfast/ playtime/cuddletime etc
8.45am I leave for work leaving a kong for each of them but allow pup out just before I go to see if he needs a wee.
8.45-12pm dogs are on their own.
12-12.45pm dog walker arrives lets pup out with older dog then goes for short 15 min walk. Lunch is then given
12.45-4.30 dogs are on their own till OH gets home
4.40-5.30pm playtime/wee time etc til I get home then we go for a short 10 min walk all 4 of us- I carry on walking Tassy for a further 50min or so -OH takes pup in and plays with him etc till I'm back
6.30-7pm pup in crate while we have dinner/then Tassy eats and finally he is fed
7pm released for a wee and playtime until 10.30
10.30 final wee and in crate for bed.
3.30am My alarm goes off and pup let out for wee and quick cuddle then back to bed
6.15-household awakes..... and it all starts again.... Wednesday is different as I only work untill 1pm and every other friday OH doesnt work as he uses his flexi time but even on days off he still spends some time whining/howling etc

now he howls from 6am waking up us and the neighbours (they have mentioned a number of times they can hear him hint hint I think)

He howls waiting for breakfast, he howls when Im walking Tassy, apparently he howls for about 20min after I leave for work and again this happens in the evening when its dinner time. He has however stopped crying at night and I dont hear anything from him even before I come down for the 3.30am wee.

He's really loud and I think the neighbours will eventually make a formal complaint if it keeps going- I dont know if he howls during the middle of the day as both neighbours are out 10-2pm but it is possible- Tassy my other dog is there to keep him company so not sure what we are doing wrong but its really getting to me as we just havent been able to sort it out. Ideally in the morning we wouldnt come down untill he had become quiet but this just isnt practical as we have to go downstairs to get ready for work... any ideas before my puppy ends up with an asbo?
 
When your out is puppy crated?

Does he have toys in his crate?

We have a mal down the road who howls A LOT but I wonder if its just because of his breed. There are a few mal owners here hopefully they can help.

Good luck, when I read posts like this I realise how lucky we are with my rottweiler x. He's so good plus he's always entertained with my springer x lab.
 
My mal x whines and winges constatly... He's just very vocal and likes to tell me EVERYTHING! I've learnt to tell what the different kind of whines mean... a low grumble with the occasional woof indicates he's not happy with the situation... a constant and high pitched ROOOOOOOOOOOOOO means hes very excited (this is the most common :rolleyes:) a constant monotanous mid range squeak means he's getting impatient... the list goes on. :o

I've forgotten what my point is now...

Edited, Oh yes. Is his whine definately an un happy one, or could he just be chatting?
*disclaimer* I dont know what I'm on about really :o
 
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CaveCanem said:
I think it may be just a husky/mal thing :o

They often howl when they're happy. Or sad. Or hungry. Or bored. Or just because.
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Basically what I was trying to say... but much better, more concise and you didn't forget what you were on about half way through :rolleyes::p
 
My other dog is also a Mal and although she 'talks' to you she never howls or whines ever- not even to ask to go out- she just sits by the door. My issue is the neighbours- Its not fair on them- we live in a little row of terraced cottages in the countryside-they have moved there for the peace and quiet! He is left with a kong with frozen wet puppy food in there (100% meat and rice stuff) he is also given a pigs ear/rolla ball with kibble inside he also has a variety of chews inside his crate when he's in there. The crate is huge and he's in there because we dont trust him with the house training yet.
 
Certain breeds have certain traits and there have been a couple of things you've mentioned about Tassy which I think may have lulled you into a false sense of security about the breed, in the nicest possible way :)

My last GSD was very quiet, calm, no prey or play drive at all, rarely barked, was perfect in every respect - yet I'd be hard pushed to call her a 'typical' GSD :o

Is he old enough to go in the outdoor run yet? Do you think it will make a difference?
 
I believe it is a Mal thing, so not quite sure if you will be able to stop it, but he will probably settle as he gets older. Am I right in thinking you got Tassy as an older rescue,you may have been lucky and missed the very noisy stage, or then again maybe she really is the exception to the rule.
Sorry can't offer much help, but it is probably worth talking to the neighbours explaining you are doing your very best to solve the problem.
 
As others have said really.
The only thing I can think that may help with the early morning whines is getting up half an hour later tonight, so 4am...because you say he isnt whining at night. May just mean he doesnt wake at 6 and start howling and wake the neighbours! In that routine the howling seems to get a result each time, you come down to let him out, or you feed him etc. Try to make sure he only gets what it is he wants once he is quiet, and you dont just give it to him to appease the din! He will pick this up quickly, even my pea brained horse understood this theory after a day or two.
 
The neighbours are full on whingers, 20 mins is not a long time.
As mentioned he is a youngster and at this stage they can only play/exercise for small spurts, once you can burn a bit more energy of him you may see the vocals subside esp as you can take them out for the same stretch together for longer.
Is the crate covered with a thick blanket (it will help muffled the howling) and will stop him seeing you leave and dont forget the all important loud radio:D
Also a black out blind if he is howling at 6am, its gets light from 6 on, so could it be the light thats disturbing him or the alarm clock, alot of dogs associate the alarm clock going off, best to use a mobile on vibrate:D
You dont think Tassy maybe mobile at the time and possibly waking him?
 
yes perhaps Tassy was noisy as a pup I'll never know but Ihad a GSD from pup some years ago and he was a lovely quiet boy. I just don't need the agro from the neighbours at the moment. Dog walker left a note to say he wasnt whining when she got home though so thats good. His crate has a cover but the curtains arent very thick so it may well be sunlight.

I shall have to go and invest in a radio I think!!
Thanks for the advice
 
Willza said:
I've not had to use one myself but I hear from other Mal owners that a spray collar can work for this sort of thing. This site sells remote control ones (I think the piccy on the packet is even a Malamute too) http://www.spraycollar.co.uk/multivet-spray-commander.html.

like I say though I've not got any experience with them (maybe someone else on here has?) and they are a tad on the expensive side.
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I personally think thats an awful idea on a puppy and in the situation.

If someone asked me the first thing i knew about mals it would be that they are vocal. I have met very few that are truly quite. Its what you got your self in for when you got a mal unfortunately.
 
I agree with KatieLou

I have an anti bark collar for Harley as he can bark at people he doesn't know.... But he also doesn't settle in strange houses at night when he's by himself (fine if he's visiting somewhere with another dog). Someone advisd me to leave the collar on him. BIG MISTAKE. I woke up in the middle of the night to his noise. He had wound himself up into a frenzy and made noise even through the collar was going off which must have just distressed him more. Poor boy. I felt so guilty.

So now he only wears it out and about, never left on unsupervised and it works as I need to it. (still haven't resolved my staying away from home problem :( )
 
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